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A proposal seeking to reduce greenhouse gases by concentrating development around light rail stations is getting a makeover to address Seattle neighborhood concerns, lawmakers and bill supporters said Tuesday.

The ambitious House Bill 1490 promotes transit-oriented development, a national trend encouraging the creation of more density, affordable housing, jobs, businesses and other walkable services around light rail stations.

But at well-attended community meetings in the past week, neighbors along Sound Transit's line balked at the bill's density requirements -- 50 units per acre within a half-mile radius of each station along the line from Northgate to SeaTac.

Neighbors from Roosevelt to Southeast Seattle have been meeting with representatives from environmental groups Futurewise and the Transportation Choices Coalition, the bill's prime advocates, asking that the uniform density requirements be removed and that the state allow more local control.

Tuesday, state lawmakers said they got the message -- and made some changes. Unlike the original one-size-fits-all proposal criticized by neighborhoods, the amended version recognizes that areas such as Northgate, the University District, Capitol Hill and downtown Seattle are more geared for higher density than single-family-oriented neighborhoods such as Roosevelt, and most of Southeast Seattle.

The bill would require cities to adopt transit-oriented development within a half-mile walk of a station, taking into account topography, freeway or other barriers. Density would focus on a net 50 units per acre as a guideline, exempting public buildings such as schools and fire stations, and sidewalks, parks, open space and unbuildable terrain from development requirements.

City Council member Sally Clark, chairwoman of the council's Planning, Land Use and Neighborhoods Committee, is well aware of the angst. Clark, whose committee has approved a city policy linking neighborhood planning updates and station-area planning, told residents she shared their concerns about the state's top-down approach of dictating density.

"This area is pretty progressive, but we asked them, please don't be so heavy-handed," said O'Halloran. "When we heard the language of the bill had changed, we were relieved. ... None of it seems too onerous for us now."

The bill, which likely will be voted out of committee Wednesday, remains "a work in progress," said state Rep. Sharon Nelson, the bill's prime House sponsor who represents West Seattle and Vashon Island areas.

"The density mandates have not been dropped, and I don't think they should be," said Nelson, who believes light rail "offers the perfect opportunity to plan around reducing greenhouse gases, increasing the amount of housing for working families, and making communities more livable."

"But the bill is not quite as prescriptive as it was," Nelson said. "It really means that local governments are still being asked to look at density around light rail, but there is much more flexibility."

Murakami and others in Southeast Seattle are concerned about construction impacts of station-area development, and wonder what environmental protections are in place. They also are concerned about unaddressed infrastructure needs such as water and sewer for increased density.

"This bill is supposed to be environmental, but in a lot of ways, it's quite un-environmental," Murakami said. "We want the state to take an aggregate, holistic approach. ... We would like there to be a maximum number of subsidized units, and we want to ensure a minimum level of homeownership."

Murakami asked about the timing, too, saying, "there's a mad rush and I'm not sure why. We've asked why they can't wait until the 2010 Census results are in."

"I know the bill had people alarmed, and we talked to them and responded. And part of the reason we made the amendments is because Seattle neighborhoods raised the biggest concerns -- Roosevelt and particularly Southeast Seattle -- and that's because they realize light rail is here, it's really coming," Nikolic said.

Service from Seattle to Tukwila is slated to begin in July.

"We spent a lot of time listening to the communities," Johnson said. "The bill is a living document, and we expect more changes to happen."

But Johnson also pointed out that federal funding to boost the economy -- signed into law Tuesday by President Barack Obama -- is in part aimed at improving transportation public transit.

"At this point, it is up to us to use this money to make our communities stronger," Johnson said.